Single Fins
One fin. Infinite trim.
All-Arounders(85)
No single trait dominates — versatile fins that do a bit of everything.
How single fins work
A single fin is the only point of contact between your board and the water's lateral forces. That simplicity is the whole point — there's nothing to interfere with the glide, nothing creating drag except the fin itself. Every design tradeoff matters more when there's only one fin doing the work.
Rake (sweep) determines how the fin turns. Upright pivot fins with low rake pivot quickly off the tail — wide and deep, they act as an anchor keeping the tail down while you walk the nose. Raked fins with more sweep draw longer, arcing turns and hold better at speed. Flex adds another dimension: the Greenough 4A's flexible tip is its signature, storing energy through turns and releasing it on exit — what surfers describe as "squirt."
The base length controls drive (forward projection), the height controls hold (resistance to sliding out), and the foil shape controls how water flows across the fin's surfaces. Flat-foil fins are looser and more responsive. 50/50 foils are more stable and forgiving. As one Swaylocks veteran puts it: "a fin with moderate flex and a good amount of fin base will serve best" for balanced control.
Our picks
5 fins we recommend. Scroll to explore.
Greenough 4A
The most versatile single fin ever made.
Medium profile with a full base and moderately flexible tip. Holds when you need it, releases when the time is right. If you're buying one single fin, this is the safe bet — it works on everything from a 6'6" egg to a 10' log.
- +First single fin — works on any board
- +Surfers who want one fin that does everything
- +Any single-fin board from 6'6" to 10'+
Skip Frye
San Diego's most revered template. Pivot and walk.
Skip Frye designed this fin for his own boards — upright, moderate area, with a pivot-friendly shape that lets you walk the board and still have control off the tail. Understated and timeless, like everything Skip makes.
- +Traditional longboarders who walk the board
- +Pivot turns and smooth rail work
- +Performance logs and classic shapes
Tyler Warren Flux
Modern performance single. Flex meets drive.
Tyler Warren's approach to single fins borrows from his experience shaping twin fins and mid-lengths. The Flux has a moderate rake with a responsive flex pattern — it drives through turns without the stiffness of a traditional fiberglass fin. Works especially well on mid-lengths and modern shapes.
- +Modern mid-length and alternative shapes
- +Surfers who want performance without a thruster
- +Down-the-line speed with responsive turning
Hobie DP Flex
Hobie Alter's high-flex design in hand-laid volan.
Designed by the man who brought surfing to the mainstream. The DP Flex has an unusually high flex rating — the tip bends noticeably through turns, storing energy and releasing it on exit. Volan construction adds warmth. A fin for surfers who feel the board, not just ride it.
- +Surfers who prioritize feel and flow
- +Classic longboards and gliders
- +Mellow, drawn-out turns in small to medium surf
Lovelace Thick Lizzy
Ryan Lovelace's daily driver. Drive and projection.
Ryan Lovelace shaped this for his own quiver — reliable drive, hold, and projection across conditions. Thicker foil provides stability while the moderate rake keeps turns flowing. One of the few modern designer fins that works equally well on a hull and a log.
- +All-conditions reliability
- +Hull riders and alternative-craft surfers
- +Surfers who want drive without stiffness
The designers
Studied the caudal fins of bluefin tuna, the wings of birds, and decades of wave riding to replace the heavy D-fins of the 1960s. In 1966, his fin design directly influenced Nat Young's world championship victory. His film The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun (1970) inspired the shortboard revolution. The 4A template, produced by True Ames since 1979, remains the most popular single fin in the world after 40+ years.
San Diego legend who has shaped boards for over 60 years. His fins are extensions of his boards — functional, understated, and built for the way he surfs. No logos, no hype. Just trim.
Modern renaissance shaper who moves between single fins, twins, and mid-lengths with equal fluency. His fin designs pull from years of testing on his own shapes — form follows the board, not the trend.
Power Blade vs 4A
Two Greenough designs, two completely different surfers. Here's how to know which one you need.
Read the article ›Still not sure?
We carry the full single fins selection at 4051 Judah St in the Outer Sunset. Bring your board.
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